Info
Sometimes called Jōban Tanko Bushi, this song is about coal mining, refering to the Miike Mine in Kyūshū (Tagawa City). A folk dance is performed during the Obon festival, which includes common mining motions, such as shoveling, pushing a bin full of coal, hoisting a heavy bag over the shoulder, and wiping the brow. (source)
Lyrics - Romaji
(Japanese folk song)
Tsuki ga deta deta
Tsuki ga deta, a yoi yoi
Miike Tankō no ue ni deta
Anmari entotsu ga takai no de
Sazoya otsukisan kemutakaro
Sa no yoi yoi
English Translation - Coal Mine Bushi
The moon, has come out,
Oh, the moon is out, heave ho,
Over Miike Coal Mine has the moon come out.
The chimney is so high,
I wonder if the moon chokes on the smoke…
Heave Ho!
(source)
Japanese - 炭坑節
つき が でた でた
つき が でた, あ よい よい
みいけ たんkō の うえ に でた
あんまり えんとつ が たかい の で
さぞや おつきさん けむたかろ
さ の よい よい
See also
- Country: Japan
- Subjects: moon / mining / Obon Festival / Buddhism
- Harmony: chords I & V
- Meter: 6/8
- Rhythm: ties
- Scale: pentatonic
- Tones: drmsld’m’s’l’
YouTube
- PDF of song with chords
- MIDI file
- Listen to the melody
